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Apr 04, 2008 -- Employment forecast not all doom and gloom

CLARKONOMICS: There's bad news on the job front with the unemployment rate rising from 4.8% to 5.1% and employers reporting 3 consecutive months of job losses. We may be at the beginning of more trouble. But the irony is that we're starting from a good spot. Economists never even thought we could get an unemployment rate as low as 5% without overheating the economy.

Instead of focusing on the bad news, Clark wants to let you know about companies that are planning on doing some big-time hiring. Forbes recently reported that Accenture -- an international consulting, technology and outsourcing company -- plans to hire 60,000 new employees in 2008. And that's just one example. This is not a doom and gloom economy where there are no jobs to be had.

Kiplinger.com recently ran a feature about recession-proof careers. These fields include healthcare, education, security, environmental science and government. In one example, The Washington Post reports that a Maryland county is pursing paramedics like they're star athletes. The starting salary is $57K.

Keep in mind that 70% of the jobs that will exist in 20 years don't exist today. Think back to 1988. At that point there was no Internet and no e-mail. You've got be willing to continually reinvent yourself. The typical American will have 5 careers and at least 15 jobs. Be ready to go back to school if necessary. As our economy changes, you've got to move with it.

Unfortunately, Clark won't be able to answer any questions submitted via commenting. If you have a question, please try posting it to our message boards.

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What others are saying

  • Job
    Clark, I've been a RE Agent for 15 years, now a Broker. As you well know, the market isn't good. I'm raising two teens alone and have been looking for a new career for almost 1.5 years. I have a great sales and feel I'd be a valuable asset to any organization. I've tried numerous internet sites without any luck....HELP!!!
  • Income
    I have been in and out of network marketing for many years. Yet I have found one that hte owner is truly offering value. Most companies say all you need ot do is share the product with freinds and neighbors and we know it is more than that. However the membership fee for this company is $250 and you get $500 in free gas. This is in the form of rebates. All you do is mail in receipts once per month and youget your $25 dollar rebate. For more info go to www.NewGasRebate.com
  • Jobs
    I'm employed in the electric industry. Our industry is always looking for new hires. We are facing a major turnover as most of the workforce will be retiring in the next 10 years. Go to http://southerncompany.com and click on the careers tab for more details.
  • RE: No overtime Pay
    It's not legal to not pay overtime unless you employ few employees (like less than 9). Check with the GA dept of labor for exact numbers.
  • Education
    Education isn't necessarily recession-proof. In California, they are talking about cutting jobs and cutting salaries for teacher. Yes, we used to be needed. Now, I don't know . . .
  • Locating Jobs
    Try LinkedIn.
  • Jobs for Senior Citizens w/some college
    I am a former licensed x-ray tech with an Associate Degree, age 72. Am Avid proofreader and editor. Need job. Who is hiring?
  • NO OVERTIME PAY
    WHY IS LEGAL FROM COMPANIES IN GA TO WORK THEIR EMPLOYEES OVER 40 HOURS WITH NO WAGE COMPENSATION. IS THEIR LAW THAT CAN BE PASSED REQUIRING PAYMENT?
  • Recession-Proof Careers
    Defense contractors offer great opportunities for employment anytime, but when the economy is down, the maintenance and retrofit fields often go up. These jobs are often short term contracts and can sometimes require alot of travel, but the pay is as good as it gets for a blue collar worker.
  • jobs or lack of
    I am 53 years old. When I go to job interviews I am usually sitting with 20 and 30 year olds. I am told I look young for my age, but when the truth comes out about age that is the end of that. I have also been told I am the perfect interview I am also trying to reinvent my self. i have been in the health care field and I am moving towards customer service work. I am taking classes and reading and studying allot. Any suggestions for good companies to look at?
  • recession-proof careers
    Yes,healthcare is a recession proof career,but getting a job after wasting your time going to school is a joke. Had I'd known this before hand I could have saved myself alot of grief and depression. I know it is partly due to my age,56,but I would never be able to prove it. But the same old thing is always said is that they want "experienced" employees. Don't think I have not done all I can between networking,newpapers,etc.. But I'm sure it is the same with any new career. So how do you reinvent yourself if you are not young. I am employed but wanted something better for myself. I guess the joke was on me.
  • New Jobs
    Thanks Howard for your valuable information about jobs and the companies that will be hiring. I am ready to reinvent myself by going back to school.
  • Employment
    I want to let the secret out - get paid training, start at just under $16.00 per hour. Work minimum of 25 hours per week and get the best benefits package around. Be a school bus driver for Fulton County. I am Safety Trainer for North Fulton
    School Transportation. We are always in need of drivers. If you have a will to work-you are set. We have classes every month including June and July. We have a large group of retirees and self employed persons. Drivers come to Fulton from Cartersville, St. Mountain, Blue Ridge - all around. If you don't want to travel, check in with your local school transportation office. Call 770.667.2970 for more information in North Fulton or 770.669.6060 for South Fulton. We have pension plan, 4 health plans, free life and dental. We can teach you all you need to know to obtain a class B CDL with Passenger and School Bus endorsements. As long as there are kids we have jobs.
  • Job Networking Leads
    One of the largest job networking groups in the SE is at Roswell United Methodist Church (www.rumcjobnetworking.com). We have 10-25 job leads coming into our group every day from employers and recruiters. To subscribe for free go to our website under "getting connected" and receive our daily digest. This is a ministry of over 110 employed volunteers. We hope we can help.
  • recession-proof careers
    For those with the attitude for it (keyword:ATTITUDE) network marketing provides walk-away residual income.
  • Here you go again with Accenture
    This is a company that hires workers MOSTLY to substitute for regular full-time US employees; e.g., I was involved with Accenture when working as a contractor for a global pharma company when the pharma company was in the process of outsourcing many sensitive, confidential, etc. functions (such as HR compensation functions) to Accenture - who in turn because of this contract would become privy to ALL world-based HR compensation electronic employee data (scary, isn't it): that is, in this case, employees in India would be displacing US HR comp workers from their jobs!!! You think this is a good thing? In addition to losing US jobs to this company, more and more US companies outsourcing to companies using labor all over the world except here are exposing sensitive(SSN, salary, ALL personal info) electronic records of all to potential HIGH abuse.
  • low cost ira's
    You may want to look again at fidelity for low cost funds. Fidelity has a series of Spartan funds with costs that Vanguard can not touch.
  • Accenture Hiring
    How many of those employees will be US citizens working in the United States? The answer will surprise you.
  • Accenture - GOOD NEWS?
    NOT--multiple US companies are outsourcing extremely sensitive corporate business functions (i.e., causing highly sensitive US citizen data to reside in foreign countries and be "flying" back and forth in the always vulnerable world wide web: NOT TO MENTION THE LOSS OF US JOBS!!!!!!!!) Yeh GADS CLARK!!!
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